Wow I feel like I'm on a roll. This Chapter specifically and specially goes out to my friend Lilac01. Love ya! I don't own anything i promise.
Enjoy!
Claire and Hope lay on the dance floor after a vigorous practice. Her mother wasn't holding back today. Claire loved and hated these days. It felt like she was becoming better yet it also felt like her mother was especially hard on her.
"When you're done with your break you two are going to practice 'Jar of Hearts' no argument," her mother called out as she sifted through CD's.
Claire groaned, "Yes ma'am."
Fang was having a field day watching the smaller girl suffer. She felt kind of bad because she knew her mother was harder on her than anyone else. She had watched Vanille practice for at least an hour before going to watch Claire. She had to say, she was jealous of Hope. He had a connection with her that she never understood, but she wasn't going to admit that out loud.
"Are you ready Hope," Claire asked as she stood up.
The young boy nodded and got into position. This is what Fang had come for; to see Claire dance. She loved it. It was all she had done for three days so far. The joy and happiness that etched across Claire's face once she finished a good number made Fang's day all that more bright. She was in awe at how talented the girl was. She could easily take over her mother's dance company with a few more years of practice.
Claire danced with such precision that she was sure she made no mistakes. That was until her mother called her out on about six different things after she finished. She heard a snicker to the right of her and turned to face Fang. ( watch?v=ToDZ9Q2hIBk the dance referenced from.)
"And just what might you be snickering about," she questioned.
Fang suddenly got quite, "nothing. You looked so crestfallen for a second."
Claire glared at her with a smirk playing at her lips, "careful you or I might cancel Saturday."
"You wouldn't dare, Sunshine," Fang warned.
Avery watched her daughter and Fang exchange threats back and forth with an amused smile. She and Claire would have plenty to talk about later.
"Tch as if Fang now if you don't mind I'm going to get back to my dancing," Claire mused.
"You do that Sunshine," Fang replied.
The rest of the day went the same. Claire and Hope practiced for hours and then Avery had the academy do their many group routines. Fang saw Serah dance a few times and noted that she was almost as good as her sister, but not quite there yet. Soon they were having dinner at home while Serah and Vanille laughed about some story they told Avery and Asher. Claire smiled softly at her sister as she continued to eat. Fang watched with a slightly sad face. It made her miss home when she saw things like this. Claire caught her eye with a questioning look and she just shook her head to dismiss the girl. She continued to eat.
Avery and Asher were doing the dishes and laughing at each other quietly while their children sat in the den. Claire could see her parents from her spot on the couch. She watched them intrigued by the love that would light in both of their eyes. Now excuse her for getting overly girly but she hoped she'd find someone to look at her like that one day. She wanted someone to accept her mistakes and oddities carelessly. She looked back at the television that showed some movie that Serah had turned on. Her sister and Vanille were extremely engrossed in said movie. Fang looked bored when she looked beside her.
Fang caught her stare, "see something you like, Sunshine?"
Serah and Vanille turned and shushed the two girls. Claire rolled her eyes at her sister.
Fang leaned closer to Claire and whispered, "This movie is sickening."
Claire nodded, "Serah loves cheesy movies. I could care less about television in general. Want to go to my room?"
Fang nodded and the two stood up. They walked through the kitchen when Avery turned around quickly.
"I hope you two aren't going to your room yet," her mother called out.
Claire raised an eyebrow at her mother, "yeah. Serah's watching a cheesy movie and Fang and I got bored. Why?"
Avery played with the dishrag in her hands, "I was hoping we could talk Claire."
"Um, yeah sure. I'll be in my room until you get done," Claire stated before heading up after Fang.
Once they reached her room Fang crashed on her couch and Claire lay on the floor next to the couch. Fang played with her cherry champagne locks and Claire sighed.
"Tired love," Fang asked as she twirled a strand of hair between her fingers.
Claire nodded, "a little. Mom kicked my butt today. It's worth it though because it means I'm one step closer to my goal."
Fang laughed, "I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of your partner."
"Hope? Why," Claire asked.
"Isn't it natural to be jealous of anyone touching someone you like or is that just a Gran Pulse thing," Fang asked teasingly.
Claire blushed, "no it's a Cocoon thing to. I think that's just a human thing in general."
Before Fang could respond Avery knocked lightly on the doorframe she was leaning on. There was a soft smile on her face as she watched the scene, "do you mind if I steal my daughter for a bit Fang?"
Claire's face was red and she caught a light tint on Fang's cheeks, "not at all Avery. You own her after all, yeah?"
Avery laughed, "That is true. Claire."
Avery walked out of the room and looked over her shoulder to make sure her daughter was following. She led her daughter down the stairs and into her own bedroom. She sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her.
Once her daughter sat down she faced her with a smile, "how have you been these last couple of days sweetie."
Claire looked confused, "good I guess. My dancing has gotten better. Hope is a lot better with his transitions."
Avery laughed, "That's not really what I meant Claire. I mean how you are not your dancing, life wise I guess."
"I'm good. I'm still getting used to having Fang and Vanille in the house. Especially Fang since she sleeps in my room," Claire smiled.
"How are you and Fang," Avery asked cautiously.
Claire cocked her head to the side, "we're good I guess. She's a really good friend from what I can tell."
Avery's eyebrows rose to her hairline, "friends?"
"Yes. Why," Claire asked.
Avery looked at her daughter for a minute, "Claire do you like her?"
Claire blushed, "I do actually. She's so different mom. It's like she sees me for me and not some Cocoonian girl who can dance well. She actually asked me on an um date Saturday."
Avery looked shocked, "really. Where is she taking you?"
"Wait, you mean I can go," Claire questioned.
"Honey, you're almost eighteen. If you want to go on a date who am I to stop you. I may not want my little girl to grow up but I've got to face it eventually and if you want to go on a date with that girl I'm not going to stop you," Avery smiled softly at her daughter.
Claire smiled, "she's taking me to the café down the street. She said she was planning a whole surprise day before the actual date. Mom?"
"Hmm," Avery responded absentmindedly braiding her daughter's hair as she talked.
Claire felt small as she asked this, "Could you help me? I've never done this before."
Avery looked at her daughter, "you never did go on a date did you?"
Claire looked down and shook her head.
Avery looked at her daughter sadly and lifted her chin, "sweetie I'm not ashamed of your choices. You know your father and I support you no matter what. It's not that uncommon as you think. Do not ever be ashamed of your feelings. Yes your life will be harder because of this but it doesn't matter what others think as long as you are happy with your life. When your sister is older she'll understand and accept you just like your father and I do."
Claire looked away then back at her mother, "but what if she doesn't. What if she hates me for it? I love Serah and she looks up to me but I don't want her to hate me."
Avery pulled her daughter into her arms. She hated that her child felt helpless in a situation she couldn't control. No she didn't know if Serah would take it well but she knew that she would be there to help both of her daughters through anything.
"I don't know how Serah will take it at first but she would come around. Your sister loves you so much Claire and she always will. If not I'll just have to talk to her and help her just like I do you. I don't want you to worry about that right now though. Worry about it when it gets here," Avery smiled.
She hugged her daughter a bit longer before letting her go back to her room. She was worried. She didn't want her eldest daughter to be hurt when she timidly stepped into her world. She didn't want her daughter to get hurt after taking her first real chance at the thing that would make her happy. She and Asher would have to talk to Fang before Saturday.
Claire walked back in her room to see Fang staring at the wall with Gran Pulse on it. She looked sad as her eyes roamed the wall. Claire stood there watching her for a moment before clearing her throat gently.
"Homesick," she asked once the girl looked at her.
Fang looked at the wall then back at Claire, "a little. I miss the fresh air and open land. I feel cooped up and trapped up here."
Claire looked at the girl sadly as she resumed her spot on the floor next to the couch, "I'm sorry. Maybe you should go back."
"No, Vanille is happy here. That and I would be leaving something good," Fang smiled.
Claire caught on to her flirting and smiled back, "and what would that something be?"
Fang shrugged, "oh you know, a pink haired dancer who I'm quite smitten with."
"Are you crushing on my sister? You know she's straight from what I can tell and she's a little young isn't she," Claire cocked a brow.
Fang laughed, "oh no but this dancer is amazing. She captivates an audience with a few simple steps to a song. She's very beautiful to. She's so different from other girls I met to. She understands things and has the most innocent blue eyes. Sound like someone you know, yeah?"
Claire was stunned. She hadn't expected Fang to go on a tangent never the less about her. She looked at Fang with a slight blush and a sweet smile.
"She might," Claire whispered as she sat up and scooted closer to the couch.
Claire played with the ends of Fang's silky hair, "well who is she then?"
Fang cocked a brow, "jealous of the girl that I described?"
"Isn't it normal for a girl to be jealous about someone she likes talk about a mystery person so vividly and lovingly or is that just a Cocoon thing?"
Fang smiled, "no it's a Gran Pulse thing to. Human nature I'd assume. I meant you Sunshine."
Claire looked her in the eyes, "I know," she whispered.
Fang sat up causing her pink haired maiden to lean back. Fang wouldn't have it and pulled the girl on the couch.
Fang cuddled with the girl, "know if any good movies are on?"
Claire smiled and pulled a blanket over them and got comfortable before turning on an action movie. Fang looked at the girl in her arms and smiled. She leaned down slightly and kissed her cheek.
"You're something else completely, Sunshine," Fang whispered.
Claire shivered at the breath that brushed her ear, "thank you."
Fang snuggled closer and turned her attention back to the movie. The girls were both content. Fang could tell you that this crush wasn't some stupid little crush. Underneath it was something special. Claire felt secure and happy. She was amazed by the foreign girl holding her. She loved the feelings that blossomed through her chest at the thought of the Pulsian. Claire sighed happily and continued to watch the movie with the girl that seemed to sweep her off her feet constantly. She was happy with the wildness that the girl holding her brought and she couldn't wait for their date that she knew would be as amazing as Fang.
Well I hope you guys liked it or loved it whatever. Please R&R I like to know if you liked it or any criticism you guys have i am more than happy to listen.
Ciao~
-ShortStuff24